Stationary exercise  device

ABSTRACT

An exercise device includes an upright post extended upwardly from a base, a pair of connecting members pivotally coupled to the upright post with an axle, two wheels rotatably attached to the axle, two lower brake arms and two upper brake arms pivotally attached to the upright post and each having a brake shoe for engaging with the wheels, a bar engaged with the free ends of the lower brake arms, and a follower engaged with the free ends of the upper brake arms and adjustable toward and away from the bar for adjusting a resistive force of the brake shoes onto the wheels and for adjusting the resistive force to the swinging movement of the handles and the elliptical movement of the foot supports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stationary exercise device, and more particularly to an elliptical and stationary exercise device including a braking device for resisting or retarding the movement or the actuation or the operation of the stationary exercise device, and for allowing the exercise device to be safely actuated or worked by the user.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical stationary exercise devices, such as stepping exercisers comprise a pair of handles pivotally attached to an upwardly extending frame member of a base support device, and a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled to the handles and arranged for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved up and down relative to the base support device. The applicant has also developed various kinds of elliptical exercisers or stepping exercisers for being stepped or actuated or worked or operated by the user to train the lower muscle groups.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,485,072 to Chuang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,608,018 to Chuang et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,811,206 to Chuang et al. disclose several of the typical exercise devices each comprising a pair of handles pivotally attached to an upwardly extending frame member of a base support device, and a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled to the handles, and a pair of force resisting device pivotally coupling the foot supports to the upwardly extending frame member for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or actuated or moved up and down relative to the base support device.

Normally, one or more pulleys or idle wheels are pivotally or rotatably attached to the base support device and coupled to the handles or the foot supports for applying a resisting or retarding force to the handles or the foot supports.

However, the typical exercise devices have no braking devices provided for resisting or retarding the striding or stepping movement or the actuation or the operation of the stationary exercise device, and the exercise device may not be safely actuated or worked by the user.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional elliptical or stationary exercise devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a stationary exercise device including a braking device for resisting or retarding the movement or the actuation or the operation of the stationary exercise device, and for allowing the exercise device to be safely actuated or worked by the user.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an exercise device comprising a base including an upright post extended upwardly from the base, a pair of connecting members pivotally coupled to the upright post with an axle for swinging relative to the axle and the base, a first wheel and a second wheel rotatably attached to the axle, two first brake arms each including a first end pivotally attached to the upright post and each including a second end, and each including a brake shoe for selectively engaging with the first wheel and the second wheel and for braking the first wheel and the second wheel, two second brake arms each including a first end pivotally attached to the upright post and each including a second end, and each including a brake shoe for selectively engaging with the first wheel and the second wheel and for braking the first wheel and the second wheel, a bar engaged with the second ends of the second brake arms, and a follower engaged with the second ends of the first brake arms and adjustable toward and away from the bar for adjusting a resistive force of the brake shoes onto the first wheel and the second wheel.

The second ends of the second brake arms each include a hook member provided thereon for engaging with the bar, and the second ends of the first brake arms each include a hook member provided thereon for engaging with the follower and for allowing the bar and the follower to be selectively moved toward or away from each other.

The bar includes a coupling element slidably coupled to the follower, and the follower is slidably attached or mounted or secured to the coupling element and adjustable toward and away from the bar along the coupling element.

A spring biasing member may further be provided and attached onto the coupling element and engaged with the follower for biasing or forcing the follower toward the bar. A fastener may further be provided and engaged with the coupling element for forcing the follower and the bar toward and away from each other and for adjusting the resistive force of the brake shoes onto the first wheel and the second wheel.

The base includes an upright support extended upwardly from the base, two handles pivotally coupled to the upright support with a spindle, and two foot supports each including a front portion pivotally coupled to the upright support and each including a rear portion pivotally coupled to the connecting members respectively, and the brake shoes of the brake arms may be provided for resisting and retarding the swinging movement of the handles and the elliptical movement of the foot supports.

Two cranks may further be provided and pivotally attached to the upright support and pivotally coupled to the handles with levers for coupling the handles together. Two cranks may further be provided and pivotally attached to the upright support and pivotally coupled to the front portions of the foot supports respectively for coupling the foot supports together.

The foot supports each include a foot pedal supported thereon for supporting the feet of a user. The handles each include a lower portion pivotally coupled to the foot pedal with a lever and to be moved together with the foot pedal.

A pulley wheel may further be provided and rotatably attached to the upright support with a shaft, and a rotary member is rotatably attached to the upright support with an axle and coupled to the pulley wheel with a coupling device.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stationary exercise device in accordance with the present invention, as seen from the rear and right portion of the stationary exercise device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view as seen from the rear and left portion of the stationary exercise device;

FIG. 3 is a side plan schematic view of the stationary exercise device;

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the stationary exercise device;

FIG. 5 is another partial exploded view of the stationary exercise device; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the other arrangement of the stationary exercise device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a stationary or elliptical exercise device in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 10, an upright support 11 extended upwardly from the base 10 for supporting a spindle 12 thereon, the spindle 12 is preferably disposed or provided on such as the upper and rear portion of the upright support 11, a rotary member or pulley or pulley wheel 20 is pivotally or rotatably attached to the front or middle portion of the upright support 11 with a shaft 21, another wheel or pulley or rotary member 22 pivotally or rotatably attached to the middle portion 14 of the upright support 11 with an axle 23 and coupled to the wheel 20 with a coupling device 25.

A pair of or two cranks 30 are pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured to the upright support 11 with a pivot rod 31, another pair of or two cranks 30 are also pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured to the upright support 11 with the shaft 21. A pair of handles 40 include an upper or middle portion 41 attached or secured to the spindle 12 for allowing the handles 40 to be pivotally coupled to the upright support 11 with the spindle 12 and for allowing the handles 40 to be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10. The handles 40 each include a hand grip 42 formed or provided on the upper portion thereof for being grasped or held or operated by the users, and each include a lower portion 43. The cranks 30 are pivotally or rotatably coupled to the upper or middle portions 41 of the handles 40 with levers 32 respectively for coupling the handles 40 together.

A pair of foot supports 50 each include a front portion 51 pivotally coupled to the cranks 33 with a link 52 for allowing the front portions 51 of the foot supports 50 to be moved cyclically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by the cranks 33, and each include a rear portion 53 pivotally coupled to or supported on the rear portion 15 of the base 10. For example, the base 10 includes an upright post 16 extended upwardly from the rear portion 15 of the base 10 for supporting an axle 17 thereon, and the rear portions 53 of the foot supports 50 are pivotally coupled to or supported on the rear portion 15 of the base 10 with the post 16 and the axle 17 and a connecting member 19 for allowing the rear portions 53 of the foot supports 50 to be swung relative to the upright post 16 of the base 10.

The foot supports 50 each include a pivot rod 54 disposed or provided on the middle portion 55 thereof for pivotally coupling or supporting a foot pedal 56 thereon and for supporting the feet of the users and for allowing the foot pedal 56 to be rotated or pivoted relative to the foot supports 50. The lower portions 44 of the handles 40 are pivotally coupled to the foot supports 50 respectively for allowing the foot supports 50 and the handles 40 to be pivotally coupled together. For example, the lower portions 44 of the handles 40 are pivotally coupled to the foot supports 50 or the foot pedals 56 with a lever 57 respectively, and the lever 57 may be pivotally coupled to the pivot rod 54 or pivotally coupled to the foot pedal 56 for allowing the foot pedal 56 to be rotated or pivoted relative to the foot supports 50 to different angular positions by the handles 40.

In operation, the handles 40 may be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 with the spindle 12 of the upright support 11, and the rear portions 53 of the foot supports 50 may be pivoted or swung relative to the upright post 16 of the base 10 with the axle 17, and the front portions 51 of the foot supports 50 may be moved cyclically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by the cranks 30, such that the foot pedals 56 of the foot supports 50 may be moved elliptically relative to the base 10. It is to be noted that the swinging movement or the moving stroke of the handles 40 may be controlled by the users in order to control and to determine the moving stroke of the foot supports 50. The above-described structure or configuration for the base 10 and the handles 40 and the foot supports 50 is typical and will not be described in further details.

The stationary exercise device further includes one or more (such as two) pulleys or wheels 60, or a first wheel 60 and a second wheel 60 each pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured to the upright post 16 and the axle 17 of the base 10 and/or secured to the connecting members 19 with a unidirectional bearing 61 for allowing the wheels 60 to be pivoted or rotated or driven by the axle 17 and/or the connecting members 19 when the foot supports 50 and/or the foot pedals 56 are stepped or actuated or operated by the user; or the wheels 60 may be solidly attached or mounted or secured to the upright post 16 and the axle 17 of the base 10 and rotated in concert with the axle 17 and also to be pivoted or rotated or driven by the axle 17 and/or the connecting members 19 when the foot supports 50 and/or the foot pedals 56 are stepped or actuated or operated by the user.

One or more (such as two or a pair of) brake arms 63 are attached or mounted or secured to the upright post 16 and disposed or located around each wheel 60. For example, the brake arms 63 each include one or first end 64 pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured to the upright post 16 with a pivot pole 65, and each include the other or second end 66 having a hook member 67 formed or provided thereon, and each include a brake shoe 68 attached or mounted or secured thereto for selectively engaging with the wheel 60 and for braking the wheel 60. One of the brake arms 63 or the first brake arm 63 is attached or mounted or disposed above each wheel 60, and another or the second brake arm 63 is attached or mounted or disposed below each wheel 60 for allowing the first and the second brake arms 63 to be disposed around the wheels 60.

An adjusting device 7 includes a coupling element 70 slidably attached or mounted or coupled to the upright post 16, and includes a bar 71 attached or mounted or secured to one end of the coupling element 70 and having two end portions 72 for engaging with the hook members 67 of the two lower brake arms 63, a follower 73 slidably attached or mounted or secured to the coupling element 70 and adjustable toward and away from the bar 71 and having two end portions 74 for engaging with the hook members 67 of the two upper brake arms 63, a spring biasing member 75 attached or mounted or engaged onto the coupling element 70 and engaged with the follower 73 for biasing or forcing the follower 73 toward the bar 71, and a fastener 76 is threaded or engaged with the coupling element 70 for forcing the follower 73 and the bar 71 toward and away from each other and for adjusting the resistive or retarding force of the brake shoes 68 onto the wheels 60, and also for adjusting the resistive or retarding force that may be applied to the connecting members 19 and/or the foot supports 50 and/or the foot pedals 56.

In operation, the brake shoes 68 may be adjusted or biased and forced onto the wheels 60 and/or to engage with the wheels 60 for applying a resistive or retarding force onto the wheels 60, and the fastener 76 may be fastened or threaded or loosened relative to the coupling element 70 for adjusting the resistive or retarding force of the brake shoes 68 onto the wheels 60, the rotational movement of the wheels 60 may thus be resisted or retarded and adjusted with the brake shoes 68, and the swinging movement of the link 52 and the handles 40 and the connecting members 19 and/or the striding or elliptical movement of the foot supports 50 and the foot pedals 56 also may thus be resisted or retarded and adjusted with the brake shoes 68.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the stationary exercise device may also comprise an upright support 11 extended upwardly from a base 100 for supporting a spindle 12 thereon, the handles 40 also include an upper or middle portion 41 attached or secured to the spindle 12, two cranks 30 are pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured to the upright support 11 and pivotally or rotatably coupled to the upper or middle portions 41 of the handles 40 respectively for coupling the handles 40 together, two foot supports 500 each include a front portion 51 pivotally coupled to the lower portions 44 of the handles 40 for pivotally coupling or supporting a foot pedal 56 thereon, and each include a middle portion pivotally coupled to the upright support 11 with links 52 and cranks 33.

The stationary exercise device further includes one or more (such as two) pulleys or wheels 60 each pivotally or rotatably attached or mounted or secured to the upright support 11 and the spindle 12 and to be pivoted or rotated or driven by the spindle 12 and/or the handles 40 when the foot supports 50 and/or the foot pedals 56 are stepped or actuated or operated by the user. Two brake arms 63 are also attached or mounted or secured to the upright support 11 and disposed or located around each wheel 60, and an adjusting device 7 includes a bar 71 and a follower 73 for engaging with the brake arms 63 and for adjusting the resistive or retarding force of the brake shoes 68 onto the wheels 60.

Accordingly, the stationary exercise device in accordance with the present invention includes a braking device for resisting or retarding the movement or the actuation or the operation of the stationary exercise device, and for allowing the exercise device to be safely actuated or worked by the user.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. An exercise device comprising: a base including an upright post extended upwardly from said base, a pair of connecting members pivotally coupled to said upright post with an axle for swinging relative to said axle and said base, a first wheel and a second wheel rotatably attached to said axle, two first brake arms each including a first end pivotally attached to said upright post and each including a second end, and each including a brake shoe for selectively engaging with said first wheel and said second wheel and for braking said first wheel and said second wheel, two second brake arms each including a first end pivotally attached to said upright post and each including a second end, and each including a brake shoe for selectively engaging with said first wheel and said second wheel and for braking said first wheel and said second wheel, a bar engaged with said second ends of said second brake arms, and a follower engaged with said second ends of said first brake arms and adjustable toward and away from said bar for adjusting a resistive force of said brake shoes onto said first wheel and said second wheel.
 2. The exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second ends of said second brake arms each include a hook member provided thereon for engaging with said bar.
 3. The exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second ends of said first brake arms each include a hook member provided thereon for engaging with said follower.
 4. The exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bar includes a coupling element slidably coupled to said follower, and said follower is adjustable toward and away from said bar along said coupling element.
 5. The exercise device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a spring biasing member is attached onto said coupling element and engaged with said follower for biasing said follower toward said bar.
 6. The exercise device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a fastener is engaged with said coupling element for forcing said follower and said bar toward and away from each other and for adjusting the resistive force of said brake shoes onto said first wheel and said second wheel.
 7. The exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes an upright support extended upwardly from said base, two handles pivotally coupled to said upright support with a spindle, and two foot supports each including a front portion pivotally coupled to said upright support and each including a rear portion pivotally coupled to said connecting members respectively.
 8. The exercise device as claimed in claim 7, wherein two cranks are pivotally attached to said upright support and pivotally coupled to said handles with levers.
 9. The exercise device as claimed in claim 7, wherein two cranks are pivotally attached to said upright support and pivotally coupled to said front portions of said foot supports respectively.
 10. The exercise device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said foot supports each include a foot pedal supported thereon for supporting a user.
 11. The exercise device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said handles each include a lower portion pivotally coupled to said foot pedal with a lever.
 12. The exercise device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a pulley wheel is rotatably attached to said upright support with a shaft, and a rotary member is rotatably attached to said upright support with an axle and coupled to said pulley wheel with a coupling device. 